garden-flowers.net

It doesn’t matter if you live in the country or city; you can find somewhere to grow a container garden, even if it’s just a small one. If you do live in the city, instead of using your balcony to store bikes or your barbeque, create a gorgeous, relaxing outdoor retreat by using container gardening & following a few tips. Choose containers that are colorful but will not detract from the plants you plan to use. Use pots that are different in shapes & sizes. Select your plants carefully so that they compliment each other & fit well in the spot designated for your container garden.

For gardening on balconies that are very long or narrow, use shrubs, different height trees & plants at the ends & corners, to add interest & round out the hard lines. Create points of interest by grouping bright colors & interesting shapes together. More tips for container gardening are to keep repeating a plant grouping or plant throughout your balcony area & use colorful flowers for accents only. Show off your large plants, shrubs & trees, by using interesting shapes & bright, beautiful colors. For gardening on your balcony, consider how your garden looks from inside your house. Buy trees & shrubs that not just bloom in the spring but also display wonderful fall colors. In climates that are cold, move your container garden indoors or line containers with builders foam & set your plants in them.

Here are some more good tips for gardening on balconies. For height, hibiscus blooms the entire summer & grows up to three or four feet tall. Dwarf Alberta white spruce have beautiful gray-green dense needles that add interest & are very soft. At maturity, they reach heights of up to eight feet. Ornamental sweet potatoes are a light colored vine that grow over the pot edge & look wonderful with darker plants. Use ornamental grasses in the background for a graceful, interesting look.

Once you have all your new plants arranged on your balcony, follow the maintenance tips on the label of the plant, to keep them healthy & beautiful. Container gardening is the same as traditional plant & flower gardening, as they require water, soil & sun. Purchase a hose that attaches to your kitchen sink because this makes watering your balcony plants far easier than carting pails of water outside. Plants in containers dry out far quicker than plants do outdoors, in the ground. Check each plant daily to see if it requires watering. Use fertilizer monthly or check the label to see the recommendations & follow them. Weeding is usually not a problem with balcony gardens. The last two tips for gardening on your balcony are to get rid of any dead or yellowing growth & sit back, relax & enjoy your garden.

Container gardening on your balcony will bring you lots of satisfaction & enjoyment. Once you get the hang of it why not plant some herbs too. They will add yet another hobby, gourmet cooking! You can also use herbs for medicinal & beauty recipes. There is no end to what you can do with a container garden. Use your imagination & have fun.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright ? Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website & in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright © notice, links & the resource box are unchanged.

cellspacing=”0″

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside & outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening & Cooking. Visit her websites at Container Gardening & Gardening Outside
& Herb Gardening